S‑0424.1   _____________________________________________

SENATE BILL 5857

           _____________________________________________

State of Washington      57th Legislature     2001 Regular Session

By Senators Eide, Thibaudeau, Deccio and Kohl‑Welles

Read first time 02/06/2001.  Referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

_1      AN ACT Relating to forecasting caseloads; and amending RCW

_2  43.88C.010.

_3  BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

_4      Sec. 1.  RCW 43.88C.010 and 2000 c 90 s 1 are each amended to read

_5  as follows:

_6      (1) The caseload forecast council is hereby created.  The council

_7  shall consist of two individuals appointed by the governor and

_8  four individuals, one of whom is appointed by the chairperson of

_9  each of the two largest political caucuses in the senate and house

10  of representatives.  The chair of the council shall be selected from

11  among the four caucus appointees.  The council may select such other

12  officers as the members deem necessary.

13      (2) The council shall employ a caseload forecast supervisor to

14  supervise the preparation of all caseload forecasts.  As used in

15  this chapter, "supervisor" means the caseload forecast supervisor.

16      (3) Approval by an affirmative vote of at least five members of

17  the council is required for any decisions regarding employment of

18  the supervisor.  Employment of the supervisor shall terminate after

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_1  each term of three years.  At the end of the first year of each

_2  three-year term the council shall consider extension of the

_3  supervisor's term by one year.  The council may fix the compensation

_4  of the supervisor.  The supervisor shall employ staff sufficient to

_5  accomplish the purposes of this section.

_6      (4) The caseload forecast council shall oversee the preparation

_7  of and approve, by an affirmative vote of at least four members,

_8  the official state caseload forecasts prepared under RCW

_9  43.88C.020.  If the council is unable to approve a forecast before a

10  date required in RCW 43.88C.020, the supervisor shall submit the

11  forecast without approval and the forecast shall have the same

12  effect as if approved by the council.

13      (5) A council member who does not cast an affirmative vote for

14  approval of the official caseload forecast may request, and the

15  supervisor shall provide, an alternative forecast based on

16  assumptions specified by the member.

17      (6) Members of the caseload forecast council shall serve

18  without additional compensation but shall be reimbursed for travel

19  expenses in accordance with RCW 44.04.120 while attending sessions

20  of the council or on official business authorized by the council.

21  Nonlegislative members of the council shall be reimbursed for

22  travel expenses in accordance with RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060.

23      (7) "Caseload," as used in this chapter, means the number of

24  persons expected to meet entitlement requirements and require the

25  services of public assistance programs, state correctional

26  institutions, state correctional noninstitutional supervision,

27  state institutions for juvenile offenders, the common school

28  system, long-term care, developmental disabilities, medical

29  assistance, foster care, and adoption support.

30      (8) Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the

31  definitions provided in RCW 43.88.020 apply to this chapter.

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